Month: February 2006
Canadian Olympian Enjoys Pen Pal Friendship with St. Anne Students
Olympic athlete Kristina Groves has given the Grade One and Two class at St. Anne School a reason to cheer a little louder for Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Kristina Groves is a Speed Skater with whom the children have been Pen Pals since the fall.
“Along with speed skating, she has been teaching us about the importance of always trying your best, eating properly and taking care of your body. It is so nice of her to take time away from such a busy schedule and make them feel a bit more special”.
To make sure that Kristina was not lonely on Valentine’s Day, the children made her cards and pictures. They also sent her a good luck bracelet and a banner that they made to cheer her on. The students were thrilled to hear that she had qualified for the 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and the Team Pursuit.
They created posters to be posted around the school and flags to cheer with while watching her at school. During the Olympics the students will be giving a morning news report to update everyone on Canada’s medal standings.
St. John Catholic School to Hold Spelling Bee
Professor Booth Enlightens and Entertains SCDSB Elementary Teachers and Staff
Dr. David Booth, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto was the guest speaker at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Professional Development Day held at St. Francis Catholic School on Friday. Professor Booth is a well-known educator in the field of literacy, how to promote literacy in young students, and issues of gender and literacy.
Teachers, staff and senior administration of the Board were enlightened and entertained by Booth’s highly motivational presentation which focused for the most part on boys’ literacy. “Even Hockey Players Read,” which is the title of one his books and also the basis for a humourous anecdote that dealt with his observation of the reading material of the New York Islanders Hockey team while waiting to catch a plane in New York.
Professor Booth concluded the morning presentation by suggesting that his research and writing is influenced by the differences he sees between what young people read outside school contrasted with inside the classroom. “My presentations and workshops with teachers and educators deal with bridging these two literacy communities and how to support readers who will have the strategies to make the most meaning possible from the different texts they will want and need to read.”
